Goals: Richards 7

Catalans full-back Clint Greenshields scored three tries

A hat-trick of tries from Catalans full-back Clint Greenshields ensured victory over Wigan in Perpignan.

The 26-year-old Australian helped the home team bounce back after the English side ended the first-half in front.

Scrum-half Thomas Bosc's eight kicks sealed the win to move the Dragons to within five points of top side Leeds.

Wigan winger Pat Richards opened the scoring on 10 minutes when he touched down for an early advantage but the Warriors could not maintain the lead.

The Dragons hit back immediately and centre John Wilson ran over the home side's first try of the match as Bosc then converted and then kicked another goal to give the Catalans the lead.

Defence became the watchword for both sides after an open first 15 minutes but the Warriors took the lead again in the 23rd minute through substitute Joel Tomkins.

Richards confidently kicked the extras but again the Dragons refused to lie down and a try from Greenshields brought them back into the game as Bosc again showed his prowess with the boot.

Brian Noble's side showed plenty of character though and centre George Carmont crossed the line and Richards converted to give Wigan a 18-14 half-time advantage.

Both teams continued to play open rugby after the interval and the Dragons wrested the lead from their opponents thanks to second-row Olivier Elima who ran over five minutes after the restart.

Bosc again converted the extras but Richards, who kicked seven times in the match, kept his composure with the boot moments later to level the scores at 20-20.

A four-minute spell from the Dragons took the game away from the Warriors as tries from Adam Mogg and Greenshields gave them control of the match.

Bosc again made no mistake with the boot in front of just under 10,000 spectators at the Stade Gilbert Brutus in Perpignan.

Prop Andy Coley went over the try-line in the 64th minute with Richards again on song but a try from Sebastien Raguin three minutes later maintained the lead for Michael Potter's side.

Greenshields ran over this third try of the game with 10 minutes remaining which Bosc converted to open up a sizeable advantage.

But Brian Noble's side showed their fighting spirit and tries late on from Iafeta Paleaaesina and Cameron Phelps either side of Mogg's drop goal for Catalans reduced the gap.

The Warriors attempted a late push but the Dragons held on to hooter to take the victory.

Wigan coach Brian Noble:

"Our defence wasn't good enough. We let Catalans have too much ruck speed and we could have helped ourselves a whole lot more.

"You can't win anything in this competition if you can't bend your backs and we conceded some tries from right under our own posts.

"It was like a game of touch football and they came out on top."

Catalans Dragons: Greenshields, Stacul, Wilson, Raguin, Pelo, Mogg, Bosc, Chan, McGuire, Guisset, Croker, Mounis, Carlaw. Replacements: Elima, Fakir, Casty.

Wigan: Mathers, Colbon, Phelps, Carmont, Richards, Barrett, Leuluai, Fielden, Higham, Coley, Hock, Bailey, Hansen.
Replacements: McIlorum, Prescott, Paleaaesina, J. Tomkins.

Referee: I Smith (Oldham).